Together with fellow Brit Andy Priaulx, German Stefan Mucke and Frenchman Olivier Pla, he will be part of the team for a two-car assault in the GTE class of the prestigious nine-race series, which starts with the Six Hours of Silverstone on April 17.

The highlight of the season will be the Le Mans 24 Hour race in June, which this year marks the 50th annisversary of Ford’s historic 1966 1-2-3 finish at the famous circuit.

Marino Franchitti (Image: Ford)

Bathgate Bullet Franchitti is no newcomer to the famous Ganassi family.

He won the 12 Hours of Sebring with the team in 2014, sharing the Riley Ford with American Scott Pruett and Mexican Memo Rojas, to give Ford their first overall win at the Florida track since 1969.

He is also something of a Le Mans specialist, having raced there on five occasions.

Mucke is another endurance specialist and has multiple WEC victories under his belt and knows what it takes to make it on to the podium at Le Mans.

Pla also has first-hand experience of the fierce competition in WEC, taking second place in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2013 driving an Oak Racing-entered Morgan Nissan.

Guernsey-born Priaulx is a three-time World Touring Car Champion who has also won the Nürburgring 24 Hours, one the world’s toughest endurance races.

He also finished third in the GTE Pro class at Le Mans in both 2012 and 2013 driving a works Aston Martin Vantage.

He said: “From my first test in the Ford GT, I fell in love with it and wanted to drive it more and more.

“It’s incredible to be part of Ford’s return to international GT racing and to go to Le Mans 50 years after Ford’s first win there will be extremely special.

“The new LM GTE rules certainly move the performance of a GT car to new levels and Ford and their partners have built a fantastic car.”

While running two cars in the World Endurance Championship, Ganassi will also run a pair of Ford GTs in the American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Both outfits will join up for a four-pronged effort at Le Mans.

The full World Endurance Championship schedule is: Six Hours of Silverstone, April 17; Six Hours of Spa, Belgium, May 7; Le Mans 24 Hours, France, June 18/19; Six Hours of Nürburgring, Germany, July 24; Six Hours of Mexico City, September 3; Six Hours of Circuit of the Americas, Texas, September 17; Six Hours of Fuji, Japan, October 16; Six Hours of Shanghai, China, November 6; and Six Hours of Bahrain, November 19.